Unitary Method

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These problems can be solved using the unitary method. This is a technique in mathematics for solving particular types of problems. It involves scaling down one of the variables to a single unit, i.e. 1, and then performing the operation necessary to alter it to the desired value.

For example if six coins weigh 66g. What would seventeen coins weigh?

Coin Coin Coin
Coin Coin Coin

Consider the weight of one coin first

1 coin weighs 11g (66 ÷ 6)

Now it is easy to calculate the cost of seventeen coins

17 coins weigh 187g (17 x 11)

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1) If three bicycle lamps cost £12 how much would seven lamps cost?	Working: pounds
2) If 400g of pumpkin can make enough soup for five people, what weight of pumpkin is needed to make soup for eight people?	Working: g
3) If six tins of paint are enough for twenty four doors, how many doors would seven tins of paint cover?	Working: doors
4) A student can jog 8km in 40 minutes. At the same speed how long would it take him to jog 3km?	Working: minutes
5) A student can swim four lengths in 16 minutes. At the same speed how long would it take her to swim three lengths?	Working: minutes
6) A recipe for samosas requires 180g of flour for six samosas. How much flour will be needed for five samosas?	Working: g
7) Two carpenters are buying wood to make some shelves. If 32m of wood is needed for eight shelves how much wood do they need for three shelves? Assume all of the shelves are the same length and width.	Working: m
8) The song "Out of Reach" is put on repeat play. If eighteen plays of the track last 63 minutes how many minutes would ten plays take?	Working: minutes
9) Given the information in the previous question, how many times would the track have to be repeated to last three and a half hours?	Working: times
10) Each time this page is refreshed you will get slightly different questions although it should take about the same amount of time to answer all ten questions. If a student refreshed and answered all the questions on this page 7 times in 35 minutes. How many minutes would it take to complete 3 versions of this page assuming the student did not get any faster with practice?	Working: minutes

Unitary Method

Test your understanding of the Unitary Method for solving real life proportion problems with this self-marking quiz.

Menu Level 1 Level 2 Proportion Exam Help Ratio

Instructions

More Activities:

Featured Activity

Lemon Law

Answers

Go Maths

Maths Map

Teachers

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